Diabetes

Most of you know, our oldest son Caden (7 years old) has been a Type I diabetic since before his second birthday. Every year we as a family have raised thousands of dollars to support JDRF (the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.) This year, we decided to take a "break" and raise money for his school walk instead. The reason we are taking a break is to give everyone else a break! We send out about 100 letters to our closest friends and family and have managed to raise around $15,000 since we started partipating five years ago. However, I always feel guilty bothering the same friends and family over and over for our cause and have decided to take a year off from our letter writing campaign.

So this year, we are taking a more laid back approach. Caden's school participates in the American Diabetes Association (ADA) School Walk every year. Last year, I kind of boycotted it because I wanted every dollar we raised to go to Type I diabetes and JDRF. However, all the money raised by Caden's school goes to help children attend diabetes summer camps. Caden attended summer camp last year and had a blast! By the way, last year his school raised the most money out of any school in the nation! They raised over $50, 000!

If you would like to help Caden and his school raise even more money this year, please click here!

Thank you so much for considering our cause and helping kids like Caden go to a diabetes summer camp!

March Photo

I am away at a conference, but was happy to see we received our March update photo today. Just thought I would post it while I had a minute to spare.

She is getting so big! I wish she could just stay this age until we get her home! Unfortunately, it just doesn't work that way.

Getting in the Signing Mood?

This is an update from last week...and although it is from another agency/orphanage, it is giving us a glimmer of hope that we'll be granted a dispensation soon? By soon, I mean like....yesterday! We have "only" been waiting for a pardon for 6 months, some families have been waiting for well over a year. We need a pardon because we have biological kiddos and I am too young (need to be 35 or older to not need a pardon...I am 34!) I am hoping the person who has to sign is getting in that "signing mood!" Sign away!!! Please! I have never longed for someone's signature so badly!

God's Littlest Angels' first Presidential Dispensation was issued for one of Bethany's families. We are so grateful that the dispensations have finally started being issued. The family that received the dispensation has been in IBESR for almost a year. We have a few families who have been in IBESR longer; however, we are very optimistic that now that dispensations are being issued, we will see dispensations for these families, as well as all other families that are waiting, be issued soon.

Thank you, Kathy!

Kathy, over at Our Haitian Adoption, is in Haiti right now visiting her kids. She was kind enough to deliver a few items to Avery. We sent her a book and a stuffed Easter bunny. Kathy's suitcase was lost, with our package inside, but from the pictures it looks like the suitcase was found! We are so glad Avery could enjoy a few little things, even for a minute. The book and bunny will disappear quickly, but that's just the way it goes in the O! We appreciate the photos, Kathy!

Four Months

It has been four months since I went to Haiti and met Avery for the first time. Wow, what a LONG four months it's been. It feels like an eternity and the sad/scary part is that it will be many more months until I see her again. My fellow adoptive friend, Katy, posted this photo on her blog and since it was new to me, I decided to post it here as well. This was from our hotel room and her daughter, Gracyn is on the right. They were both just so adorable. A few of our other adoption friends are actually in Haiti or traveling there this week. I sent a small package to Avery and I can't wait to see if anyone is able to give me a report on how she is doing or a few photos. It is always so hectic at the orphanage, but maybe someone might get a chance to grab a quick photo for us.

We also just got back from NY and had a great trip. I'll post a few photos later. The weather was actually sunny but COLD. However, sun in Syracuse is rare so we weren't complaining. We went to the zoo and to an open hand puppet museum. Pretty cool . Also, while we were there we saw the BEST basketball game ever!! Anyone catch the 6OT game Syracuse vs. UConn? It started at 9:30pm and didn't end until 1:30am and it was AWESOME!!! I didn't fall asleep until 4am I was so hyped up!

Blog Break

We are heading to upstate NY mid week (if Preston shakes his bout of pneumonia.) We were supposed to already be there, but as you all know with kids, plans change. After Gramma (yes, she is awesome) spent all day Thursday with him at the doctor/ER, the pediatrician recommended we postpone our trip until he gets better.

We had a wonderful weekend (low 80's and sun) and we are all going to be in for a shock once we reach NY. High all week is in the 40's, some snow, some rain. The boys had water gun fights here all weekend, and soon they'll be having snow ball fights!

And as usual, I'll add my typical disclaimer....nothing new on the adoption front. When I say, nothing, I mean NOTHING! I haven't heard anything, no rumors, zip, zero, zilch, nada, nothing.

It's 7pm here, and it's so light out my kids think they just had lunch, not dinner. It's going to be a long night I am afraid! We'll be back in a week! Enjoy the extra daylight!

Round Two-Sledding

More March Snow Storm Photos

I love how living in the south, we get away with calling 5 inches of snow a "snow storm." Back in NY, we wouldn't have thought twice about that much snow, set aside blogged about it. Everthing is closed for the most part and kids were out last night at 10 pm having snow ball fights.

Anyway, we've been up since 5AM with anticipation to get out and play in it. Round one (see photos below), the boys lasted longer than I thought...about 30 minutes. Wet clothes are now off and warm, dry ones are on. Round two, coming up in a little while, which will involve sledding somewhere in the neighborhood.
More photos to come...

Can you hear them?

SCREAMING....It's SNOWING!!! It's SNOWING!!!

They have been waiting all day, and it has finally started!! Can't beat a snow day on a Monday! Yippee! We already got called from Caden's school that it is indeed cancelled...already!

Oh yeah, and Preston dressed himself for bed tonight, if you're wondering about the pajama outfit.